Strengthening Federal Efforts To Protect Against
Identity Theft
By the authority vested in me as President by the
Constitution and the laws of the United States of
America, in order to strengthen efforts to protect
against identity theft, it is hereby ordered as
follows:
Section 1. Policy. It is the policy of the United
States to use Federal resources effectively to deter,
prevent, detect, investigate, proceed against, and
prosecute unlawful use by persons of the identifying
information of other persons, including through:
(a) increased aggressive law enforcement actions
designed to prevent, investigate, and prosecute
identity theft crimes, recover the proceeds of such
crimes, and ensure just and effective punishment of
those who perpetrate identity theft;
(b) improved public outreach by the Federal Government
to better (i) educate the public about identity theft
and protective measures against identity theft, and
(ii) address how the private sector can take
appropriate steps to protect personal data and educate
the public about identity theft; and
(c) increased safeguards that Federal departments,
agencies, and instrumentalities can implement to better
secure government-held personal data.
Sec. 2. Establishment of the Identity Theft Task Force.
(a) There is hereby established the Identity Theft Task
Force.
(b) The Task Force shall consist exclusively of:
(i) the Attorney General, who shall serve as Chairman of the Task Force;
(ii) the Chairman of the Federal Trade Commission, who shall serve as Co-
Chairman of the Task Force;
(iii) the Secretary of the Treasury;
(iv) the Secretary of Commerce;
(v) the Secretary of Health and Human Services;
(vi) the Secretary of Veterans Affairs;
(vii) the Secretary of Homeland Security;
(viii) the Director of the Office of Management and Budget;
(ix) the Commissioner of Social Security;
(x) the following officers of the United States:
(A) the Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System;
(B) the Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Federal Deposit
Insurance Corporation;
(C) the Comptroller of the Currency;
(D) the Director of the Office of Thrift Supervision;
(E) the Chairman of the National Credit Union Administration Board; and
(F) the Postmaster General; and
(xi) such other officers of the United States as the Attorney General may
designate from time to time, with the concurrence of the respective heads
of departments and agencies concerned.
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(c) The Chairman and Co-Chairman shall convene and
preside at the meetings of the Task Force, determine
its agenda, direct its work and, as appropriate,
establish and direct subgroups of the Task Force that
shall consist exclusively of members of the Task Force.
Such subgroups may address particular subject matters,
such as criminal law enforcement or private sector
education and outreach. The Chairman and Co-Chairman
may also designate, with the concurrence of the head of
department, agency, or instrumentality of which the
official is part, such other Federal officials as they
deem appropriate for participation in the Task Force
subgroups.
(d) A member of the Task Force, including the Chairman
and Co-Chairman, may designate, to perform the Task
Force or Task Force subgroup functions of the member,
any person who is a part of the member's department,
agency, or instrumentality and who has high-level
policy or operational duties or responsibilities
related to the mission of the Task Force.
Sec. 3. Functions of the Task Force. The Task Force, in
implementing the policy set forth in section 1 of this
order, shall:
(a) review the activities of executive branch
departments, agencies, and instrumentalities relating
to the policy set forth in section 1, and building upon
these prior activities, prepare and submit in writing
to the President within 180 days after the date of this
order a coordinated strategic plan to further improve
the effectiveness and efficiency of the Federal
Government's activities in the areas of identity theft
awareness, prevention, detection, and prosecution;
(b) coordinate, as appropriate and subject to section
5(a) of this order, Federal Government efforts related
to implementation of the policy set forth in section 1
of this order;
(c) obtain information and advice relating to the
policy set forth in section 1 from representatives of
State, local, and tribal governments, private sector
entities, and individuals, in a manner that seeks their
individual advice and does not involve collective
judgment or consensus advice and deliberation and
without giving any such person a vote or a veto over
the activities or advice of the Task Force;
(d) promote enhanced cooperation by Federal departments
and agencies with State and local authorities
responsible for the prevention, investigation, and
prosecution of significant identity theft crimes,
including through avoiding unnecessary duplication of
effort and expenditure of resources; and
(e) provide advice on the establishment, execution, and
efficiency of policies and activities to implement the
policy set forth in section 1:
(i) to the President in written reports from time to time, including
recommendations for administrative action or proposals for legislation; and
(ii) to the heads of departments, agencies, and instrumentalities as
appropriate from time to time within the discretion of the Chairman and the
Co-Chairman.
Sec. 4. Cooperation. (a) To the extent permitted by law
and applicable presidential guidance, executive
departments, agencies, and instrumentalities shall
provide to the Task Force such information, support,
and assistance as the Task Force, through its Chairman
and Co-Chairman, may request to implement this order.
(b) The Task Force shall be located in the Department
of Justice for administrative purposes, and to the
extent permitted by law, the Department of Justice
shall provide the funding and administrative support
the Task Force needs to implement this order, as
determined by the Attorney General.
Sec. 5. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order
shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:
(i) authority granted by law to an executive department, agency, or
instrumentality or the head thereof; and
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(ii) functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget
relating to budget, administrative, or legislative proposals.
(b) This order shall be implemented consistent with
applicable law and subject to the availability of
appropriations.
(c) This order is intended only to improve the internal
management of the Federal Government and is not
intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit,
substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in
equity by a party against the United States, its
departments, agencies, instrumentalities, or entities,
its officers or employees, or any other person.
Sec. 6. Termination. Unless the Task Force is sooner
terminated by the President, the Attorney General may
terminate the Task Force by a written notice of its
termination published in the Federal Register.
(Presidential Sig.)B
THE WHITE HOUSE,
May 10, 2006.